The Hindu : New Delhi News : Family alleges doctors' negligence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 08, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Family alleges doctors' negligence

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 7. The family of a 43-year-old woman who was admitted to VIMHANS in South Delhi with a spinal cord problem last November has alleged that due to doctors' negligence and delay in treatment, her right forearm had to be amputated. Following a complaint to the Delhi police by the family, a medical board has been constituted based on whose findings the police would take further action.

The patient, Munni Barthwal -- a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher at Lansdowne in Uttaranchal -- was admitted to VIMHANS on November 30 with the spinal cord problem. A family member alleged that during her treatment the doctors gave her an injection through drip in the right hand. It apparently missed the vein and infected the hand. Initially the doctors claimed that she would recover through medication. "But a few days later, they gave up stating that there was no option but to amputate the forearm,'' alleged the family member, adding that the forearm was amputated on December 20.

For their part, the hospital authorities maintained that the forearm had to be amputated due to some complication.

According to the complaint filed with the Delhi police, Ms. Barthwal's condition kept deteriorating forcing her relatives to urge the authorities to discharge her so that she could be taken to some other hospital. "The hospital refused to do so till a bill to the tune of over Rs. 4 lakhs was cleared,'' the family member alleged.

Around 8 a.m. today, the hospital authorities allegedly asked Ms. Barthwal's relatives to give in writing that they did not have the money to pay the bill and that they had no problems with the treatment she had received if they wanted to take her away.

Ms. Barthwal's relatives then lodged a complaint with the Srinivaspuri police accusing the hospital authorities of keeping the patient in confinement and of being negligent in her treatment, causing amputation of her forearm.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi), Pravir Ranjan, said a medical board would be constituted to find out whether there was any negligence on the part of the hospital doctors leading to deterioration of the patient's condition and amputation of her forearm. "We will take further action on the board's report," he added.

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